back 1 of 4

adverb

Definition of backnext
1
as in ago
earlier than the present time that's longer back than I can remember

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Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in around
toward the opposite direction turned back for one last comment

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in backward
toward the rear concert security asked the crowd to move back

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

back

2 of 4

noun

ˈbak How to pronounce back (audio)
1
as in rear
a behind part or surface the back of the page was blank

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in jugular
a vulnerable point a candidate needing a loyal aide who can be relied upon to always watch his back

Synonyms & Similar Words

back

3 of 4

verb

1
as in to advocate
to promote the interests or cause of she enthusiastically backed the plan to renovate and upgrade the school's facilities

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to aid
to provide (someone) with what is useful or necessary to achieve an end a number of influential people have already agreed to back the candidate

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to reinforce
to provide evidence or information for (as a claim or idea) the author needs to back her thesis with more facts

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

back

4 of 4

adjective

as in hind
being at or in the part of something opposite the front part she carried all the presents in the back door, as the children were playing in the front yard

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word back different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of back are advocate, champion, support, and uphold. While all these words mean "to favor actively one that meets opposition," back suggests supporting by lending assistance to one failing or falling.

refusing to back the call for sanctions

When can advocate be used instead of back?

While the synonyms advocate and back are close in meaning, advocate stresses urging or pleading.

advocated prison reform

Where would champion be a reasonable alternative to back?

The words champion and back are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, champion suggests publicly defending one unjustly attacked or too weak to advocate his or her own cause.

championed the rights of children

When might support be a better fit than back?

In some situations, the words support and back are roughly equivalent. However, support is least explicit about the nature of the assistance given.

supports waterfront development

When is it sensible to use uphold instead of back?

The words uphold and back can be used in similar contexts, but uphold implies extended support given to something attacked.

upheld the legitimacy of the military action

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of back
Adverb
Here was Adam at the door, back from his afternoon trip to the dentist. — Helen Simpson, New Yorker, 30 Aug. 2026 The show filmed across North Texas, including in Weatherford and Fort Worth, back in 2021. — Brayden Garcia, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 Aug. 2026
Noun
For a hefty $650 discount, back-to-school laptop shopping just got 45% cheaper. — Kelsey Fogarty, PC Magazine, 25 Aug. 2026 Lots of offseason roster turnover and a back-to-Earth season ahead for the Patriots. — Miami Herald, 25 Aug. 2026
Verb
Darline Graham — a political newcomer serving as interim replacement for her late brother — has struggled to define herself to voters who routinely backed Lindsey Graham in the heavily Republican state. — ABC News, 25 Aug. 2026 One of the WhatsApp groups visible in Luk’s video was a synagogue updates group whose latest message appeared to back political rival Naftali Bennett, the former prime minister who now heads the Beyachad party. — Deborah Danan, Sun Sentinel, 25 Aug. 2026
Adjective
Andrade flew in and hit a back elbow on Wayne and vultured the pin. — Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026 Chan’s parents always treated their back pain from laborious food industry jobs with acupuncture and cupping, the practice of using cups or suction on the skin to stimulate blood flow and the flow of chi, or energy. — Cara Kelly, USA Today, 30 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for back
Recent Examples of Synonyms for back
  1. ago
  2. around
  3. backward
  4. rear
  5. jugular
  6. advocate
  7. aid
  8. reinforce
Adverb
  • In addition to modular dorms, there are many large glass buildings in the Dysonplex (as Allure’s former senior writer Brennan Kilbane dubbed it after his own visit six years ago).
    — Jenny Bailly, Allure, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Only once has the make-up of the WSL’s top four changed since United entered the league in 2019 — when Liverpool, under the late Matt Beard, finished fourth two years ago.
    — Katie Whyatt, New York Times, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of ago
Adverb
  • For all the headlines of the past month, not having general manager Mike Lombardi (who’s on administrative leave) around on a game day is probably a net positive for UNC football.
    — Stewart Mandel, New York Times, 30 Aug. 2026
  • So the first-year guard had to wait around and trust that his new team would figure out a way to get him in the door.
    — Tony East, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of around
Adverb
  • As drawn on the field, the coaching boxes positioned in foul territory look like a three-sided bracket, closed off in every direction except backward, away from the baseline.
    — Patrick Mooney, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Now, researchers have developed a new method to analyze modern human genomes and uncovered evidence of two previously unknown ancestral lineages by working backward from DNA in living people to reconstruct missing parts of the human family tree.
    — Taylor Nicioli, CNN Money, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of backward
Noun
  • The gracious master of ceremonies gave me the place of honor in the line-up, directly behind him, with Reiffer and the two shikaris bringing up the rear.
    — Leslie E. Tassell, Outdoor Life, 27 Aug. 2026
  • The office said in a statement that police found Glenwood Pysher IV at the rear of the home and ultimately shot and killed him.
    — Holly Ramer, Los Angeles Times, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of rear
Noun
  • And then Alvarez went for the jugular with a grand slam to deep center field.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 13 June 2026
  • The president’s instinct to go for the jugular was on display in his first campaign, when he was written off early on as an entertainer but found success with brutal takedowns.
    — Zac Anderson, USA Today, 12 June 2026
Definition of jugular
Verb
  • Environmental groups advocated for SB 954 over concerns that the CEQA exemption could allow heavily polluting facilities to bypass environmental review.
    — Naomi Taxay, Sacbee.com, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Insisting on tax cuts and voting for politicians who will, of course, advocate them, has exacerbated the problem.
    — Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of advocate
Verb
  • Posture is often more important than vitality, since deathblows can be activated even if an enemy has high health, but higher health also aids faster posture recovery, both for Wolf and his enemies.
    — Aman Kumar, Encyclopedia Britannica, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Your mission is to aid the ongoing resistance, and the game offers significant freedom in how to approach mission objectives.
    — Jason Cohen, PC Magazine, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of aid
Verb
  • The look also pulls from indie sleaze, which Trendalytics reports is up 80% in social buzz, reinforcing the messy, early-2000s finish that defines the trend.
    — Ashley Lynch, Miami Herald, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Both formulas pair moisture-drawing glycerin with pea peptide and a trio of ceramides to condition and reinforce dry, stressed hair.
    — Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of reinforce

Phrases Containing back

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baches
back
backache
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Cite this Entry

“Back.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/back. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on back

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about back

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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